daves

I've been in Tampa Bay (Clearwater) for 7 years now, but went to school and worked in P'cola for 10 years. I dont think the diference in pay/benefits will be all that great overall. The main point I would make is the considerable difference in living experience in the FL panhandle verses TB. Pensacola is nicknamed "LA". as in Lower Alabama. TB has more in cultural comparison to Miami and Havana, Cuba than the AL/FL/GA state line. Did you know that Pensacola is in a different time zone than TB? So I've done them both, and they're both fine; just boils down to lifestyle considerations as much as anything else.

Well, I've been at this place off and on for 7 years. Primarily in PCU, but have done the floors too. Its not a bad place overall, and certainly better than the local competition, the HCA Blake Hospital where I worked as well. MMH always has a lot of new grads. That's not necessarily an indictment on the hospital, as this is a pretty transitory state - a lot of people moving around due to lots of options. If you're looking at "magnet" sites, then its north to Tampa Gen or south to Sarasota Mem. Blake is unionized, so keeps hospital admin honest when it comes to wages and working conditions. Bottom line - this is an OK place to work.

Have you considered buying a house here? Thay are cheap-cheap-cheap. I bought mine for cash like one-third of home purchases in TB are done. The point about proximity to the water and price is well-taken and obvious.

I haven't worked at Sun City but did interview when I came back to FL 2 years ago. What an odd place. You probably know you have to be at least 55 to buy property there. Thats fine and all, but walking around anywhere there and not seeing anyone under 70 just seems a bit strange. It's almost like walking around in an episode of the twilight zone. The biggest ailments there are MIs and golf cart collisions. The golf carts are everywhere and they have, I kid you not, stretch golf carts. I've never heard anything bad about the hospital, but it is as you already know: HCA. Take care.

Welcome on down. I live in Clearwater and have heard decent things about Morton Plant, but have not worked there myself. I have worked at Largo which just last year voted by a 70% plurality of RNs and LPNs to unionize, so conditions should be improving (its HCA so you've been warned). Northside in St Pete is HCA as well, but honestly is not terrible. Tampa General has a good rep for the area and region, so if you're looking for a particular speciality, it'll be one stop shopping for you.

Personally, I'm nobody's scab.

Get a load of this: Simultaneous possession of valid, active licenses in CA, NY, LA, DC, VI, HI, VA, WV, PA, MD, and FL. Yeah it was great fun renewing a license every 3-4 months:( Pared it down a bit though over the years, but at the time if I ever wanted to just go somewhere .....

I actually live in Clearwater a few blocks from the hospital, but have not worked there (yet?) I'm currently doing USC in Los Angeles. Come and enjoy the great beaches, no state income tax, and you don't have to live in St Pete or Tampa!

Going to start my fourth week at USC tomarrow as Tele float. Its now officially Keck Medical Center USC. Make sure you're not accidentally interviewing for LAC+USC, "County"; that's all together different. Probably not the first hospital someone should work in - lots of new stuff going on. They seem to need a lot of help though. On top of everything else they're going to transition to Cerner charting (using paper now!) in June. That usually requires ramping up of staff numbers.

HCA? Where to start. I've done quite a few over the last three decades and its usually fairly predictable. All the horror stories I know, but if you know that in advance, at least you won't be surprized. Here in FL they're hard to ignore - too many of them. They're shameless too. The CEO who got caught with his hand in the Medicare cookie jar to the tune of a billion (with a B) dollars in the 90's, is now our governor. They have also used the archaic Meditech DOS charting since it came out. Its a riot. That said if its the only game in town, make your peace with it and hold on.

Please visit the Florida state site to hear about opportunities from us that live here. Hear all about the ones you may want to avoid:( We are in the middle of "the season". As in tourist. Usually more than the typical number of spots open up.

Greetings from L.A. My current company has several of us at USC. While I don't particularly recommend CCTC or USC, there are a few options in the area. One to avoid is Apple Valley. You might try American Mobile - they're headquartered in - San Diego!

Forgot to repoint out the most important parts that I intimated in another post: Make nice with your Resp Techs and CNAs. Not only do they know more about their fields then you ever will, they will sooner than later Save Your Ass; reference keeping small fires small before they blow up in your face.:)

You have to include "Rehab" facilities in your LTC search. They are almost all 8-hour shifts, though I hear there is a 12-hour facility in Zepherhills. Experienced RNs may make 22-24 or so. Inquire about the benefits - don't assume anything. Cambridge Quality Care is a big conglomeration here in Pinellas. Don't waste time applying at all their facilities - do one application and make some calls. Do you need experience to work there? Doesn't appear to be the case.

LTACs, like any other hospital or hospital type, vary greatly from town to town. Your patient ratio is probably going to be twice that of an average ICU, but less than on Tele. And thats about right - its sort of a cross between the two. What saves you is the one "easy" patient that you hope to have. Patients tend to be there a long time; weeks certainly. Many come on a pre-approved 30-day insurance authorization. That means every one gets pretty familiar with them sooner than later. As I made assignments daily, it became a matter of matching total acuity with nurse capabilities. Covering LPNs is certainly a consideration. For one thing, some LPNs can act practically independant, almost as an RN. Other LPNs - not so much. As far as new nurses on a busy and high acuity LTAC, the most hopeful thing I would point out is you would get a lot of experience a whole lot sooner than on MedSurg. And like any other first job in this biz, the most important thing is to learn how to prioritize, make fast assesssments, and ask smart questions (before you get into trouble).

Wow, Oklahoma to NYC? You are intrepid indeed. All things being equal I would never consider NYC as a starter assignment. That said, if you have a background in major cities and cross-cultural experiences, it may be an easy transition. And where is the hospital; mid-town Manhatten or out in bridge and tunnel land? Good luck with this. Sounds like you are in for one memorable trip. I'll go out on a limb and assume you'll learn quite a bit. Dorothy, you are not in Norman anymore. Have fun with this - it won't be boring. Suerte.

Hate to say this but I've juggled 12 licenses simultaneously during my traveling days. A person could have dozens if they wanted. Its a real hassel, and expense, to maintain them though. The more prudent thing would be to keep alive the states that were particularly hard to get or originally fairly expensive. Also might not be a bad idea to maintain a particular status on your state-of-original-licensure simply for convenience. If you are from a compact state you really have a head start on getting work. The problem is all these parochial BONs that won't give up the power and their reason for existence. National licensure anyone?

Several years ago I worked at St Thomas in the Virgins. The hospital was all RNs as far as I know, but the local nursing home had LPNs. I can't describe the working conditions because I'm not familiar with them, but for what its worth, there were LPNs that extended their contracts. I've always thought that had to mean something. At that time the only travel companies contracting the USVI were HSSI and Cross Country. They had the same very nice housing and benefits as everyone else. In all my experience I haven't seen travel LPNs anywhere else, but as always, you only need one company to sell your profile. Keep at it. St Thomas even had a travel Resp Therapist. Suerte.

Not sure about the cost of LPN licensure in FL, but I reacquired my RN for a cool $223. That comes at the end of an 18-page packet that didn't include the two fingerprint cards. Like everything else, send it off certified to the BON. In about a month it should arrive. Suerte.

I've gone from WV to D.C. on a regular basis before. Working as a traveler, and with travelers, per diem, staff, and Baylor at out of state hospitals, I've almost never seen a site help with your concerns. You are pretty much on your own. That said, its pretty easy networking with co-workers that you find that are doing the same thing. Fortunately, working at the big sites in the big towns make that pretty easy. You have to ask around. Even CAMC at General had "the blue house" which was a great deal. As for motels, it is definately worth it to stay at a better place and pay the few extra bucks it may cost, for the quietness and convenience. Suerte.

I'm finally going to put my two cents worth in Re PJC health programs. I am an ancient RN grad '86, after going through their Hospital Orderly, EMT, LPN, RN, and even got my Paramedic there. Nursing programs certainly don't have to be historically good - it all depends on the staff at the time you attend. So generally speaking, anywhere you go will end up being what you make of it. My girlfriend at the time, from Milton, actually went to Jeff Davis. She has done quite well. Now at that time you had to acquire a certain score to work outside of your original state of licensure. Some states were higher - some were lower. She is now in California. We have each done OK in all these many years. The point is to get through school - any school - and do the day to day learning that comes with work experience. Suerte.

Select Speciality at St Francis may be an option. As for Thomas... all I can tell you is good luck. Getting a position there may not be the best thing that ever happened to you. For what its worth I'll share this after some 30 years in this business: I literally wouldn't return there if it was the last hospital on earth. To each their own however; at some point any spot, anywhere, may be better than nothing at all. Still, I would exhaust all the possibilities in town first. Best of success.

I've done LTAC with Select for years. The acronym says it all. You tend to deal with medically or surgically complex patients that arrive with a host of ailments. We are never their first hospital - sometimes their third, even. They frequently end up at LTAC because their initial hospitals cannot or will not deal with them anymore. Their complexity can be as great as anything I ever seen in any ICU. One more "interesting" aspect you get to deal with is the family. Some almost literally move in to "help" out on day to day care. I couldn't imagine most new grads settling in nicely without a fair amount of day shift support. What saves us is an amazingly strong Resp therapy dept. Good CNAs are always a plus like anywhere. Good luck - its good experience if you can manage the pace.

Will surely look at Clearwater, Oldsmar, etc. I have nothing against clean, quiet, small hospitals. Have done the mega Level 1 teaching hospitals before, from L.A. to D.C. Getting beat up every night all night needn't be a lifelong career path. On the other hand they always need new warm bodies. Wonder why? How are the biggest ones there? Anything different than everywhere else?

After 20 years out of state will be moving back to Florida, but not to an area we are that familiar with. So all you Tampa people; what are people from Tampa called? - want to be very careful here - whats the good and whats the don't-even-think-about-it in hospital and LTC options? And what about areas of towns - which are in decline, and which are more desirable? Thanks for any replies. And greetings from West By-God.